Sevilla moved a step closer to defending the Europa League by cruising to a 3-0 victory over Fiorentina in the first leg of their semi-final tie this evening.

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The visitors came close to taking the lead in the fifth minute when Mario Gomez was slid through by Joaquin, but the German could only place his strike over the bar.

Sevilla were next to threaten, as Jose Antonio Reyes delivered a teasing low ball across the six-yard box that was inches away from picking out Carlos Bacca.

Within minutes the hosts managed to break the deadlock, as Aleix Vidal was set up by Bacca on the edge of the box to guide a low strike into the bottom corner and past the stranded Neto.

Matias Fernandez then had a huge chance to bring his side level, but after being found by Joaquin's pull-back, he placed the ball wide from just a few yards out.

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The game was being played at a frantic pace, and Reyes saw a low strike held by Neto before Fernandez saw his attempt from a tight angle blocked by Sergio Rico following a quick break.

Fiorentina continued to pose a danger on the counter and Rico was called into action once again to save Mohamed Salah's effort at the back post.

On the stroke of half time, Sevilla felt that they should have had a penalty when Grzegorz Krychowiak went down inside the box under a challenge from Stefan Savic, but the referee had already blown the whistle for the end of the first period.

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At the beginning of the second half, Fernandez threatened with a curling free kick that edged narrowly wide of the post.

However, it was Sevilla who doubled their lead in the 52nd minute, as Vidal was slipped into the box by Vitolo, before drilling a low effort past the keeper at the near post.

Fiorentina struggled to create any decent openings and they were punished again as substitute Gameiro touched in Vidal's strike from close range to give his side a three-goal lead.

The Viola piled on the pressure in search of a late goal, but they were unable to find a way past Rico and will now face an uphill struggle to turn the tie around.